Protective cover

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a removable cover for a body armour plate, the cover including a sheet of strong fabric intended to face away from the plate, and an inner, foamed layer intended to face the plate, the cover being surrounded by an endless resilient edging for surrounding a periphery of the plate so as to retain the cover in place on the plate.

This Application claims the benefit of the priority of U.K Patent Application No. 0526506.1 filed on 28 Dec. 2005.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a cover for a body armour plate.

It is known to form a breastplate resistant to ballistic impacts from ceramic material. One particular known ballistic protective plate comprises a layer of sintered silicon carbide edged with a urethane trim, and a layer of polyethylene having an ultra-high modulus of elasticity.

A significant disadvantage of such a ceramic plate is that if the plate is dropped such that its ceramic layer contacts a hard surface such as concrete, the plate cracks and cannot then be reissued.

Accordingly, it is known to provide a fabric pocket into which the plate can be placed, the pocket having a foam-faced insert for protecting the plate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aim of the invention to provide a protective cover which is more robust and/or more convenient than the known fabric pocket.

Accordingly, the invention provides a removable cover for a body armour plate, the cover including a sheet of strong fabric intended to face away from the plate, and an inner, foamed layer intended to face the plate, the cover being surrounded by an endless resilient edging for surrounding a periphery of the plate so as to retain the cover in place on the plate.

The plate can easily be removed from the cover of the invention and inspected for damage.

The strong fabric layer may form a spall shield. In one embodiment, the strong fabric is nylon, such as “ballistic” nylon.

The foamed layer may for example be of high-density, closed cell polyethylene foam.

The edging may comprise an elastomeric moulding and may include a part arranged substantially perpendicular to the fabric and foamed layers so as to extend transverse to the plate and a further part connected to the substantially-perpendicularly-arranged part and arranged to face a side of the plate opposite a side faced by the foamed layer. The edging may be of a synthetic thermoplastic elastomer such as polyurethane.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A particular embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a cover according to the invention and a body armour plate;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the cover of FIG. 1 in place on the plate;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the cover of FIG. 1 in place on the plate; and

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line A-A of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a known ballistic protective plate 1 comprising an outer layer of sintered silicon carbide 2 edged with a urethane trim 3, and an inner layer of ultra-high modulus polyethylene 4. The plate may optionally have a backing layer (not shown) of strong fabric such as nylon.

A cover 5 according to the invention comprises a spall cover 6 of ballistic nylon bonded to a foamed layer 7 of high-density, closed cell polyethylene foam such as Plastazote®. An elastomeric edging 8, moulded from polyurethane, is either stitched or bonded to the spall cover 6. The edging 8 has a part 9 extending transverse to the spall cover 6 and foamed layer 7 and then a further, re-entrant part 10 extending parallel to the spall cover and foamed layer.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 show the cover 5 in place on the plate 1. The plate 1 is inserted into the cover 5 by pulling the edging 8 around the periphery of the plate 1 and the edging 8 then retains the cover 5 snugly in place.

The foamed layer 7 of the cover 5 prevents cracking of the plate if the latter is dropped from waist height on to a hard surface such as concrete. The plate can easily be removed from the cover 5 and inspected for damage. An inspection record can be attached, e.g. sewn or glued, to the cover or the plate plate to record the dates of inspections and the identity of the user.

The invention provides a protective cover which is more robust than prior art covers and can travel with an armour plate throughout its life.

A removable cover 5 for a body armour plate 1 may include a sheet 6 of strong fabric intended to face away from the plate 1, and an inner, foamed layer 7 intended to face the plate 1, the cover 5 being surrounded by an endless resilient edging 8 for surrounding a periphery of the plate 1 so as to retain the cover 5 in place on the plate 1. The strong fabric layer 6 may form a spall shield, and the strong fabric may be nylon. The foamed layer 7 may be of high-density, closed cell polyethylene foam. The edging 8 may comprise an elastomeric moulding, may be of a synthetic thermoplastic elastomer, and/or may be of polyurethane. The edging 8 may include a part 9 arranged substantially perpendicular to the fabric and foamed layers 6, 7 so as to extend transverse to the plate 1 and a further part 10 may be connected to the substantially-perpendicularly-arranged part 9 and may be arranged to face a side of the plate 1 opposite a side faced by the foamed layer 7. Cover 5 may further comprise a body armour plate 1 having a side adjacent the foamed layer 7 and having a periphery engaging the edging 8.

A removable cover 5 for an armor plate may comprise a sheet 6 of strong fabric intended to face away from the armor plate 1, and a foamed layer 7 adjacent the sheet 6 of strong fabric and intended to face the armor plate 1, and may further comprise an endless resilient edging 8 engaging at least the sheet 5 of strong fabric for surrounding a periphery of the armor plate 1 so as to retain the cover 5 in place on the armor plate 1. The sheet 6 of strong fabric may provide a spall shield, and the strong fabric may be nylon. The foamed layer 7 may be of high-density, closed cell polyethylene foam. The edging 8 may comprise an elastomeric molding, and may be of a synthetic thermoplastic elastomer. Edging 8 may be of polyurethane. Edging 8 may include a part 9 arranged substantially perpendicular to the sheet 6 of strong fabric and the foamed layer 7 so as to extend transverse to the armor plate 1 and a further part may be connected to the substantially-perpendicularly-arranged part 9 and arranged to face a side of the armor plate 1 opposite a side faced by the foamed layer 7. Cover 5 may further comprise an armor plate 1 having a side adjacent the foamed layer 7 and having a periphery engaging the edging 8.

A removable cover 5 and armor plate 1 may comprise an armor plate 1 having a first side and having a periphery, a foamed layer 7 adjacent the first side of the armor plate 1, a sheet 6 of strong fabric adjacent a side of the foamed layer 7 facing away from the armor plate 1, and an endless resilient edging 8 attached to the sheet 6 of strong fabric and engaging the periphery of the armor plate 1 for retaining the foamed layer 7 and the sheet 6 of strong fabric in place adjacent the first side of the armor plate 1. 

1. A removable cover for a body armour plate, the cover including a sheet of strong fabric intended to face away from the plate, and an inner, foamed layer intended to face the plate, the cover being surrounded by an endless resilient edging for surrounding a periphery of the plate so as to retain the cover in place on the plate, wherein the endless resilient edging includes a part arranged substantially perpendicular to the fabric and foamed layers so as to extend transverse to the plate and a further part connected to the substantially-perpendicularly-arranged part and arranged to face a side of the plate opposite a side faced by the foamed layer.
 2. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the strong fabric layer forms a spall shield.
 3. A cover according to claim 2, wherein the strong fabric is nylon.
 4. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the foamed layer is of high-density, closed cell polyethylene foam.
 5. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the edging comprises an elastomeric moulding.
 6. A cover according to claim 5, wherein the edging is of a synthetic thermoplastic elastomer.
 7. A cover according to claim 6, wherein the edging is of polyurethane.
 8. (canceled)
 9. A cover according to claim 1, further comprising a body armour plate having a side adjacent the foamed layer and having a periphery engaging the edging.
 10. A removable cover for an armor plate, said cover comprising: a sheet of strong fabric intended to face away from the armor plate; and a foamed layer adjacent said sheet of strong fabric and intended to face the armor plate; said cover further comprising an endless resilient edging engaging at least said sheet of strong fabric for surrounding a periphery of the armor plate so as to retain the cover in place on the armor plate, wherein said endless resilient edging includes a part arranged substantially perpendicular to said sheet of strong fabric and said foamed layer so as to extend transverse to the armor plate and a further part connected to said substantially-perpendicularly-arranged part and arranged to face a side of the armor plate opposite a side faced by the foamed layer.
 11. The cover according to claim 10 wherein said sheet of strong fabric provides a spall shield.
 12. The cover according to claim 10 wherein said strong fabric is nylon.
 13. The cover according to claim 10 wherein said foamed layer is of high-density, closed cell polyethylene foam.
 14. The cover according to claim 10 wherein said edging comprises an elastomeric molding.
 15. The cover according to claim 10 wherein said edging is of a synthetic thermoplastic elastomer.
 16. The cover according to claim 10 wherein the edging is of polyurethane.
 17. (canceled)
 19. The cover according to claim 10 further comprising an armor plate having a side adjacent said foamed layer and having a periphery engaging said edging.
 20. A removable cover and armor plate comprising: an armor plate having a first side and having a periphery; a foamed layer adjacent the first side of said armor plate; a sheet of strong fabric adjacent a side of said foamed layer facing away from said armor plate, and an endless resilient edging attached to said sheet of strong fabric and engaging the periphery of said armor plate for retaining said foamed layer and said sheet of strong fabric in place adjacent the first side of said armor plate, wherein said endless resilient edging includes a part arranged substantially perpendicular to said sheet of strong fabric and said foamed layer so as to extend transverse to the armor plate and a further part connected to said substantially-perpendicularly-arranged part and arranged to face a side of the armor plate opposite a side faced by the foamed layer. 